National Trust Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Save Historic Green Mountain Lookout

Today, the House of Representatives passed S. 404, the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act. The law enables continued operation of the fire lookout within Washington state’s Glacier Peak Wilderness Area. The following is a statement from Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

“After more than three years of joint advocacy with our local and national partners on this issue, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is pleased that Congress has acted to protect this historically significant and locally cherished landmark. With this vote, the House joins the Senate in affirming that the preservation of this historic resource is compatible with wilderness protection.

Since its construction in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Green Mountain Lookout has symbolized the American ideal of careful stewardship of the spectacular lands we’ve inherited. We owe it to our future generations to retain this integral piece of the Cascade Mountain landscape, where it has been a point of pride and a key piece of visitors’ wilderness experience. We commend the Senate and House champions of this legislation, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Reps. Susan DelBene (D-Wash.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), for their leadership in sustaining a resource that enriches the local economy and preserves an important part of Pacific Northwest heritage.”

BACKGROUND ON GREEN MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT Green Mountain Lookout near Darrington, Wash. was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps for fire detection purposes. The U.S. Army used it to spot enemy aircraft during World War II. The land was protected in 1984 by the Washington State Wilderness Act and the lookout was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. A lawsuit filed in 2010 resulted in a court order to remove it. The Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act (S. 404), passed the Senate unanimously on April 3, 2014. H.R. 908, the House-introduced companion bill, passed in February 2014 as part of H.R. 2954, the Public Access and Lands Improvement Act.

UPDATE: On April 15, 2014, the President signed S. 404, the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act into law, thereby enabling the continued operation of the fire lookout within Washington state’s Glacier Peak Wilderness Area.

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places. PreservationNation.org